"Defying Gravity" by Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande: Lyrics Details, Meaning & Impact
Song Credits:
- Featuring Artist(s): Ariana Grande
- Producer(s): Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Oremus & Greg Wells
- Writer(s): Stephen Schwartz
- Release Date: November 22, 2024
- Musical Genre: Pop, Orchestral, Soundtrack, Musical Theater
- Album: Wicked: The Soundtrack (Bonus Track Version)
- Label: Universal Studios, Republic Records & Verve Records
- Distributor: Universal Music Group
- Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill
- © 2024 Universal Studios, Republic Records & Verve Records. All rights reserved. "Defying Gravity" written by Stephen Schwartz. Performed by Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande.
Exploring the meaning of "Defying Gravity"
“Defying Gravity” isn’t just the musical’s high point — it’s Elphaba’s turning point. As she belts those soaring notes, what we’re really hearing is a declaration: she’s done playing by the rules of a world that never gave her a fair shot.
At its core, the song is a rebellion — a decision to break away from the expectations that have boxed her in. She’s not asking for permission anymore. This is about choosing truth over comfort, freedom over fear.
Sharing the moment with Glinda (Ariana Grande in this version) adds another layer. Glinda represents everything Elphaba is expected to be — likable, compliant, adored. But Elphaba, sung by Cynthia Erivo, chooses something riskier: authenticity. And in doing so, she breaks not just from society, but from her closest friend.
There’s a price to this kind of defiance. Elphaba knows she’s stepping into isolation — branded as wicked by those too frightened to understand her. But that’s the point.
“Too late for second-guessing / Too late to go back to sleep.”The path forward may be lonely, but it's hers — and she’s taking flight, literally and metaphorically.
Annotations
Elphaba’s journey in Defying Gravity begins with a spark — a sharp, clear realization.
Something has changed within me. Something is not the same.This is not just a line — it’s a rupture in her identity. She no longer seeks to please. She no longer accepts the rigid game she’s been forced to play.
The music doesn’t rush her here. It unfolds in colla voce — a free tempo where the orchestra follows her breath, her pace, her unfolding awareness. There’s no set rhythm, no boundaries. Just like her.
This section feels deliberately unstable. It drifts without clear tonality, as if Elphaba herself is standing on uncertain ground, testing the edge of her own beliefs. Around her, sharp chord stabs pierce the air, reflecting the growing tension — not just with Glinda, but within herself.
She speaks boldly now:
It’s time to try defying gravity. I think I’ll try defying gravity. And you can’t pull me down.These are not just words of rebellion. They are lifelines. They lift her from the grip of expectation, pulling her out of a life of submission. The phrase defying gravity is her anthem — a refusal to stay grounded by the weight of others’ limits.
Her voice rises against Glinda’s pleading. Musically, their lines are in combat — Glinda’s triplets and syncopations collide with Elphaba’s steadier, surging melody. Their friendship strains under the pressure. Their paths are no longer aligned.
Glinda believes in staying — influencing, negotiating, softening power from within. Elphaba believes in breaking free — stepping outside the system entirely. Neither can fully understand the other. And yet, both love each other enough to let go.
The lyric
Some things I cannot change, but till I try, I’ll never know.pierces through her hesitation. Elphaba chooses risk. She chooses action. Even if she falls, she must try. That’s the core of her rebellion — not certainty, but courage.
The phrase “flying off the handle” isn’t just a joke here. It quietly plants the image of what’s to come — Elphaba literally flying away, tearing herself from the grip of others, leaving behind the safety of the ground and the safety of old friendships.
Her life up to this moment has been a desperate search for approval — from her father, her sister, the Wizard, the people of Oz. Now, she tears through that need like paper. She begins to believe her own voice is enough.
There’s a tender line she offers Glinda: “I hope you’re happy.” In the beginning, it burns with sarcasm. By the end, it’s a soft, aching farewell. The line matures, just as their bond does — shaped by care, regret, and the painful clarity that their roads have diverged.
Elphaba’s leap is both literal and spiritual. She sings:
So if you care to find me, look to the western sky. As someone told me lately, everyone deserves the chance to fly.She takes the Wizard’s empty encouragement and reshapes it into a declaration of freedom. The western sky becomes her horizon — the place where she no longer needs permission to soar.
The polyphony in the music thickens. Glinda’s lines, Elphaba’s soaring melody, and the Ensemble’s chant weave together like opposing winds. The crowd labels her, brands her:
No one mourns the wicked, so we’ve got to bring her down.Their verdict is swift. Even as she rises, they cast her as the villain. That is the price of defying the gravity of power.
This is where the story fractures. Elphaba’s defiance is glorious, but she walks into loneliness. She will always carry the weight of this choice.
Her final belt — the one that shatters the theater — stands just a little dissonant, refusing to fit neatly into the harmony beneath her. That note, that bold, imperfect sound, is her purest rebellion. It is the sound of someone who has stopped asking for permission to exist.
Meaning of the Song: "Defying Gravity"
“Defying Gravity” tells the story of a woman refusing to shrink. Elphaba stops waiting for permission and decides to own her truth — not because it’s safe, but because it’s necessary. She breaks the mold, and in doing so, breaks free.
This isn’t rebellion for show. Elphaba’s defiance is quiet at first — rooted in principle, in pain, in clarity.
“I’m through accepting limits / ’Cause someone says they’re so.”She’s no longer willing to play by rules designed to keep her small.
Her refusal to cooperate with a broken system isn’t about chaos — it’s about integrity. The moment she steps outside that system, she becomes dangerous in the eyes of those who built it. They call her wicked not because she’s wrong, but because she refuses to obey.
And yet, freedom isolates her. Choosing to rise above means losing what’s familiar — her friend, her standing, her safety. But still, she flies. And that flight becomes a symbol: not of escape, but of transformation.
The song also carries a personal heartbreak. Elphaba asks Glinda to come with her, but Glinda is not ready to leave her safe, familiar life. Their friendship fractures, but the care between them remains.
In the end, Defying Gravity is not about winning — it’s about claiming the right to live freely, even when the world turns against you. It’s about daring to rise, even if rising makes you a target. It’s about rejecting the roles others write for you and finding the courage to write your own story in the open sky.
Similar songs with themes of self-empowerment:
- "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel: This *Frozen* anthem mirrors *Defying Gravity* in its themes of self-acceptance and breaking free from societal constraints. Both songs build to a climactic moment of defiance and self-empowerment.
- "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga: Just as Elphaba embraces her true self, *Born This Way* celebrates individuality and self-acceptance, resonating with marginalized communities.
- "Rise Up" by Andra Day: Both songs are anthems of perseverance in the face of adversity, inspiring listeners to overcome obstacles and rise above expectations.
Questions & answers
- Why is *Defying Gravity* such a powerful song?
- The song resonates because it speaks to the universal struggle of breaking free from societal limitations. Its soaring melody and emotional lyrics make it an anthem of empowerment and self-discovery.
- How does *Defying Gravity* reflect Elphaba’s character arc?
- It marks the moment she stops seeking approval and decides to fight for justice on her own terms. It’s her declaration of independence, even if it means being branded a villain.
- What is the significance of the "western sky" line?
- The western sky symbolizes both Elphaba’s future and her transformation into the "Wicked Witch of the West." It foreshadows her eventual fate while asserting her autonomy.
Chart Performance and Awards
*Defying Gravity* debuted at #7 on the UK Singles Chart and at #44 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Cynthia Erivo’s first Hot 100 entry. It was the highest-charting song from the *Wicked* soundtrack.
Fan and Media Reactions
“This is heavenly! Cynthia and Ariana’s voices together are unreal.”
“I cried so hard watching this in theaters. The moment she took off? CHILLS.”
“The most powerful *Defying Gravity* rendition since Idina Menzel.”